Philadelphia’s Arden Theatre is not messing around this season. Often, the city’s finest venue for top-notch family theater will throw a curveball into the mix, a Flea and the Professorfor example. But for the 2014/15 season, it is all fastballs, high and tight. Leading off the duo of children’s productions, running from 11/6/14-2/1/15, is Beauty and the Beast and batting cleanup will be The Jungle Book, on stage from 4/15/15-6/21/15. Heavy hitters, both of them.

While the names are familiar, families should expect each classic work to receive the ‘Arden’ treatment. Remember how stunning Cinderella looked on the F. Otto Haas stage? Do you recall how inventive Pinocchio was upstairs in the faux-construction site the brilliant set design team at the Arden created? And wow, the greatness of the Arden’s take on Peter Pan is still discussed around our dinner table. Tink as just a glimmer of light? Brilliant.